Rinsola Abiola.
The Special Assistant on New Media to the Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria, Rinsola Abiola has quit the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Famzn News understands that the late M.K.O Abiola’s daughter dumped the ruling party after she was told not to consider running for any elective position in the country under the platform of the party, a statement released by her on Friday revealed.
Abiola, who was the President of the APC Young Women Forum (APC-YWF) and was also a youth representative on the APC Board of Trustees, revealed that she had expressed interest to vie for a political position following the passage of the “Not Too Young To Run” bill by the Senate but was told she “must not run”, and “should not even consider it”.
Apparently displeased with the response she got, Abiola decided to quit the ruling party, stressing that such responses should not be “tolerated in a democracy which many people fought for, with some of our heroes – my father-inclusive – losing their lives in the process”.
Her words: “Last year, while we – youth advocates and those of us in political parties who fall within the youth demography – were advocating for passage of the Not Too Young To Run Bill, I approached a handful of our leaders and expressed my intention to run for office if the Bill scales through. Thankfully, this year, Not Too Young To Run became law and young people (from 25) can now seek to occupy elective positions.
“I began consultations in October 2017 but have now concluded that while legal constraints may have been done away with, there are greater challenges that we all must contend with. Apart from the usual issues like funding and violence, undemocratic dictates which are now (erroneously) viewed as the norm also pose a serious challenge. I have been told in no unclear terms that I “must not run”, that I “should not even consider it”, and that there are “consequences for disobedience”.
“I believe strongly that such things should not be tolerated in a democracy which many people fought for, with some of our heroes – my father-inclusive – losing their lives in the process. I also believe that if those who fought for this democracy had listened to such veiled threats or even thought about the consequences that they might face, civil rule would not have been restored when it was”, she said.
Speaking further, Abiola revealed that she is still committed to the ideals that led her to join politics and that she will join another party once she is convinced that inclusion for youths and women is an issue they prioritise.
“I remain committed to the ideals which led me to join politics and will join another party once I’m convinced that inclusion for youths and women is an issue they prioritise and that internal democracy truly matters.
“I certainly do not have it all figured out yet, but the conviction that led me to join APC now demands that I stand and fight not just for myself, but also for other women and young people in similar circumstances. Mine is a grossly underrepresented demography and injustice, in all its forms and irrespective of who perpetrates it, must be resisted.
“The decision of who gets to represent us is one that should be made by the people and it is not up to any individual, no matter how highly placed, to tell me that I must not even try”, the statement added.